Generational fishkeepers?

[Colin_T]

Same here . When we had chicken for supper I always grabbed the sack of giblets and took out the heart and liver and hid them in the freezer for my piranhas . I would shave little pieces off to feed him and I had him for a couple years until he jumped out somehow . The top didn’t stop him and he got to about six inches in that twenty gallon . I started out with three but one disappeared entirely a month in and the other a month or so later , all but his bony head . Gruesome creatures preying on each other.

They do that when stressed and kept in small numbers in small tanks.

 

[MaloK]

My father introduced me to the hobby quite young, and I have nobody else in the family known to have Aquariums at any time besides him. And he only had guppies the whole time. Not sure if that qualifies.

When you have a farm, You have enough pets to care of, I guess...

 

[Ceez]

My Dad was the influence for sure. He kept Discus and mostly kept me away from his tank. You know how that goes especially for a kid, you want what you can't have even more. Not that he was mean about it but he was very particular with his routine.

Growing up in southern California there are also many many fish stores, everything from tropical fish to saltwater. The fascination with saltwater fish, seeing the corals move with the quick current and the fish swimming effortlessly through it, the vivid colors and their antics always drew me in. Every time given the chance I would stop at every fish store possible, it was like going to the zoo

Friends of mine in Jr High had very beautiful saltwater tanks and I was always envious. When I would spend the night i would stare at them as long as I could. They were just so amazing.

I've been an angler my entire life as well and have fished coastal waters of southern California forever. Seeing the fishlife around the islands, tide pools, seaweed forests and kelp beds was always intriguing. Going to SeaWorld, the aquarium in long Beach and Monterey Bay Aquarium just further added fuel to the fire.

Great thread, this brought back so many memories